Furlough on H-1B

Pier 1
genie99

Go to company page Pier 1

genie99
Apr 8, 2020 29 Comments

I was recently put on a furlough along with a lot of other employees. I'm not very sure whether this is acceptable being on a H-1B visa. I am trying hard to find opportunities outside but the situation hasn't helped. Does anyone know if being furloughed in this kind of situation cause any visa issues in future? I'm also looking for anyone who is willing to provide referrals for any analytics based roles anywhere in the US. Most of the recruitment is now frozen due to COVID-19. Appreciate any help and assistance in this time. Thanks and stay safe. #furlough #H-1B #referrals #layoffs

comments

Want to comment? LOG IN or SIGN UP
TOP 29 Comments
  • VMware
    harbleu

    Go to company page VMware

    harbleu
    I would suggest you consult an immigration lawyer tbh - people on Blind will give you answers most based on their opinion. There is a possibility that it may be wrong or intentionally misleading.

    That being said - from previous threads the consensus seems to be furloughed == laid off for H1-B status purposes.

    Best of luck! Sorry youre in this situation πŸ˜”
    Apr 8, 2020 1
    • Pier 1
      genie99

      Go to company page Pier 1

      genie99
      OP
      Thank you. Yes. I'm compiling a list of questions to be asking an attorney because it's always better to know the law in such cases.
      Apr 8, 2020
  • Pier 1
    genie99

    Go to company page Pier 1

    genie99
    OP
    An update to the thread. I was able to reach out to my company regarding this. They were telling me that I shouldn't have any problems if I'm in furlough inside 60 days. They had also mentioned that they would use one day of vacation for every week of my furlough. So technically, I'm paid for two days in a paycheck. Not sure this helps the situation but definitely better than being unpaid throughout the period.
    Apr 8, 2020 3
    • Dell
      LUHV04

      Go to company page Dell

      LUHV04
      +1 on this.

      When I was on visa , the immigration firm indicated that there is a minimum
      Amount that I need to be paid.

      It can’t be lower than a certain $ , otherwise it’s a problem
      Apr 8, 2020
    • Thumbtack / Eng
      bgse43

      Go to company page Thumbtack Eng

      bgse43
      Minimum amount is annual figure - you can go unpaid for 60 days and be ok if you meet annual amount - if you don’t end up losing your job and having to file a transfer with no paystubs.

      That said, you should definitely consult with a lawyer for such a sensitive issue (costs about $100)
      Apr 13, 2020
  • fucked up indeed, sorry to hear. Maybe an option is to call your employer and offer a redux in sal (not sure if 2 days of vaca pay cuts it, maybe you can go for mim wage)

    If this lasts for 2 months you have 2months + 60 days (in case they don't need your services)

    Another tip, reach out to smaller companies (LI) the C-level will work, explain your situation, tell them you are happy to work for a minimum of 12 month for $X and you can have a convo after that period (i am talking 100s in inmails, not 3 or 4 messages)

    That's how many of my friends got through the .com crash, and the window was brutal back then (shorter and the transfer was a nightmare)

    Good luck.....you got this if you have the right attitude, time to hustle.
    Apr 8, 2020 1
  • Pier 1
    genie99

    Go to company page Pier 1

    genie99
    OP
    Thank you for your messages. Most of my HR are also furloughed, so I couldn't reach out to them. I mailed out company attorney's but they aren't supposed to reply direct it seems. If they do, they bill me $250 per email πŸ€¦πŸ»β€β™‚οΈ. So I have reached out to a private attorney with questions. Initially, I was taking a 15% paycut. But things got worse and they took their own decision. I again reached out to them after their decision and they had informed me that within 60 days if I'm recalled, there is no threat to my status. I had several interviews in last stages, all of them were closed due to the position. Talk about luck. But I agree, I'm not the only one facing this kind of trouble.
    Apr 9, 2020 1